The Remediation of my Writing Spaces November 10, 2009

There are many different mediums, or writing spaces, that people use to create messages for an audience to read. The writing spaces I use most often are my laptop, notebooks, and in a diary. On my laptop, I write emails, papers, and other mostly academic assignments. Occasionally, I’ll write a letter, post a picture, write in an online journal, or create a piece of writing for fun in my free time.  This is unique because I can easily research topics to make my writing more credible. The information I use is very easily accessible.

Second, I use notebooks for planning and memorization usually for school. In a notebook, I take notes for classes and write outlines for academic papers. I use this medium when I cannot get to a computer or do not feel like waiting for one to boot up, wait for a word document to open, etc. This writing is less formal than writing on the computer.

The third type of writing I do is journal writing. In a journal, I can use whatever method I choose to go about to express myself. My journals are often disorganized and do not always stick to just writing. Since I’m the only person reading these entries, I can be as neat or messy as I feel like. What I’m writing doesn’t even have to make sense.

Bolter considers remediation “a process of cultural competition between or among technologies” (23). When a new technology is created, it “claims to do a better job” (Bolter 26). Writing on a computer remediates writing in a journal. The computer allows for faster processing and delivery to the reader rather than having to handwrite everything in a journal. You can find references with less effort to make your writing more credible. Tables, pictures, and text can make writing more organized and clear. Using a computer for writing takes the method of handwriting and makes it easier for both the writer and the reader.

These Writing Spaces of Mine… November 7, 2009

As time progresses and evolves, so does the writing techniques and mediums used to convey a message from author to reader.  The writing spaces utilized and developed also grow, expand, and change based on the society, culture, and preferences of the growing age.  There are many, many types of writing spaces, from papyrus to printing presses to typewriters to computer composing; all of which play a role in how writing develops.

Three of the most common writing spaces that I use would be (obviously) the computer, handwritten journals, and formal letter writing.  Of these, the computer takes up most of my writing time.  Do to a string of essays, emails, research, and other forms of academic papers, the composing is done straight on the word processing system to help cut back on multiple loose-leaf copies, constant erasing and smudge marks, and storage that is quick and easy.  The computer’s writing space also offers a ton of resources that allow my document to look its best, even when a reader (other than me) is not present.  The style and simple structure allows for anyone to read the information presented without the worry of having to decipher cursive or jumbled letters that could account for any one of the alphabetical sequence.   Computers also have multiple writing spaces available other than the academic essay value.  Research and various sources are also available just a “click” away, making the process of gathering information from multiple authors efficient and unique.  The second writing space that I use frequently is journals.  I have several bound pages that are waiting for inspiration to strike.  Not only do they contain some of my favorite pieces of quotes and text from all over the place, but they also incorporate some of the “other” types of writing materials.  For example: pictures, postcards, fortune cookie fortunes, random blurbs of sayings, and little quirks that I find fascinating or have created myself.  Journals are unique writing spaces because they house the fundamental essence of the writer.  All the passages contain the inner workings and passions of the author; it is a personal account of one’s interests or trains of thought.    The third writing space I use frequently is formal letter writing.  Of course, this could fall under the category of emails, but my type of formal letter writing is (1) handwritten, (2) on personally selected stationary, and (3) (in my opinion) is a more personal way of saying, “how do you do? Or how are you?  These characteristics are unique because the reader has that sense of connectedness to the author and the created piece is something that can be folded and tucked in a breast pocket to be revisited later when just the right saying comes to mind.  On the other hand, with an emailed letter, a computer has to be available, the draft of the email needs to saved, found, and opened, and the text has a rigid standard, meaning that it has difficulty conveying emotions (despite emoticons).

These writing spaces have also changed and influenced one another.  Over time, writing spaces remediate either themselves or another type of technology, or in this case, writing space.  Formal letter writing has now become almost an “archaic” concept.  With the immediacy and accuracy of email, multiple e-stationeries, font types and sizes, the need to express “good tidings” no longer relies on pen and paper.  Instead of waiting for the letter to arrive by mail in about a week, a recipient can receive a message within minutes and also respond in the same amount of time!  This definitely brings down the cost of stamps and effort!  In addition to email, there are also instant messaging, chat windows, and blogging stations that give regular updates.  Instead of creating a personal letter that discusses a wide range of time, these short bursts of information are simply the little parts of our day, almost like an hourly update, so to speak.  No longer do we have to wait for a response by mail, now it is just a keyed text combination and a click away.  Other writing spaces that have also been altered or changed would be journal writing.  Instead of buying thousands of journals to fill up with your thoughts, ideas, inspirations, and quirks, this is all available via the computer.  With word processors and passwords, your private thoughts are practically safeguarded beyond your wildest dreams.  No more worry about someone leafing through the pages.  But, is it better?  Not only do you risk more injury typing, but your thoughts may be come more jumbled when they are written and/or keyed down.  For example, the writer may tend to leave out more words or they might have trouble using the correct word to pinpoint the description because the concept is so “electronic ready.”  Furthermore, the journal was once something that you could carry with you, nowadays there is the laptop.  Of course, this has more “damage control.”  At the risk of being stolen, broken, or lost, the writing practice has taken on a more worrisome belief instead of a book that, to most people, would not be worth stealing; as for breaking it, well, let’s just say, unless you drop in the ocean or throw it out of a hot air balloon, it should remain intact.